Golf game



Feb. 4, 1941. E. a. GILMORE GOLF GAME 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Oct. 2,1939 Mia E. G. GILMORE GOLF GAME Filed 001:. 2, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2fiiwaq mums \SOQ-Lavd Lam! Tm Take on; TvoYe. panah' 1505455 We TGEbounds Lack Sb ds. 250 B-AcH one. GIL i To qit ma 0? wood. 250 C-Tlke.one shake \m bu a1 50k asoc- Wak 511 k for lei ball i'ni nafu shah. ToseT badlan Mm Vhu ova-sham? qua \nvem'br Eula. G. Gflmom Patented Feb.4, 1941 UNITED STATES ATENT OFFICE GOLF GAltIE Earle G. Gilmore, Ea

Application October 2 2 Claims.

This invention relates to a game, and. more particularly to that type ofgame which may be played with devices laid on a table.

While the game has at present been designed to emulate the game of golf,it is realized that the same principles of structure and Operation maybe utilized by a different arrangement for other games.

The game comprises generally a series of maps or charts illustrating thedifferent fairways and greens of a golf course and bearing playingindicia, a series of groups'of indicators representing golf clubsbearing indicia and a hand manipulated selector such as a ball andpocket device which selects the indicators.

In general the game as arranged for golf is played as nearly like theconventional golf game as can be done with a device of this nature.Before the play the player selects his club by name which is representedby a group of indicators. He then operates the selector which selectsthe indicator of the group chosen. Indicia upon the indicator selectedshows where the marker is to be placed upon the chart. The players taketheir turns and as each player continues his marker is advanced alongthe course until it is finally holed out.

The invention is hereinafter more fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan view of the ball and pocket selector device.

Fig. 2 is a cross-section of the same on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showingthe cover in place.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of the same on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1showing the cover removed and inverted serving as a base.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of one of the markers.

Fig. 5 illustrates one of the groups of club or indicators such as thedriver group, and

Fig. 6 illustrates one of the charts showing the number I tee, fairwayand green of the golf course.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures.

' The charts I may be provided in any number, but it is preferable thatthey shall be in sets of either nine or eighteen to correspond with thenumber of holes on a conventional golf course. These charts show a tee2, fairway 3 and green 4. The number of yards along the course areindicated at 5 and also the customary hazards are shown such as trees 6,traps I, swamps 8, water,

st Grand Rapids, Mich.

, 1939, Serial No. 297,467

etc. In addition to the yard indications the charts also bear otherindicia such as A, B and C.

The selector unit comprises a box-like structure 9 having a series ofpockets II], a guideway II into which the pockets I0 open, a ball I2 totravel in the guideway and a manual propelling device I3 by means ofwhich the ball is shot along the guideway II from where it drops intoone of the pockets ID.

The so-called clubs I4, which in reality act as indicators, are providedin any desired number of groups and each group is given the conventionalnames such as driver, brassie, midiron, niblick, putter, etc., and each.group consists of a plurality of indicators corresponding in number tothe number of pockets II] of the selector. The pockets I0 each bearsymbols such as the numbers I to 9 and the plurality of clubs of eachkind or group also bear symbols to correspond with the pockets. Each ofthe groups also bears a number representing yards and in addition anindicia corresponding to the indicia A, B or C upon the chart, such as250A, IiIiIB or 50C. Pockets l5 may be provided to receive each group ofclubs and labeled with the name of the group, although this is not anessential part of the game.

The markers I6 are provided in sufficient numbers so that each playermay have one, and are preferably spherical to indicate a golf ball andalso have fiat bases upon which they may stand.

The selector box 9 is preferably provided with a cover I! which may belocated over the box when the game is not in use and may be used as abase upon which the box may be rotatably mounted when the game is beingplayed. This cover has a centrally located stud I8 which enters. a holeI9 in the bottom of the box when the game is being played. The box has aspacer 20 at its bottom edge opposite the propeller I3 so that thebottom of the box will be inclined. During play it is intended that theplayers sit around the table and as they take their turns the box isrotated around the stud l8 upon the inverted cover H which then acts asa base.

Any number of persons may play the game, but it is preferred that theusual twosome or foursome participate. As nearly as practical, standardgolf rules are followed and local club rules 2| providing for penaltiesmay appear upon the respective charts. The players take their turns asin conventional golf, beginning with their markers upon the tee of thenumber I fairway. The first player selects his club, which is a group ofindicators I4, before he plays and then propels the ball l2 in theguideway I I so that it will fall into one of the pockets H1. The numberof the pocket into which the ball falls indicates the specific indicatorof the group which he has selected and. the yard number and indicia uponthat particular indicator shows the position where he is to place hismarker or ball upon the chart. For example, if he has chosen a driverand the ball had fallen into number 8 pocket, the yardage and indiciaupon the number 8 club of the driver group indicates that his markermust be placed at I000 upon the chart, which places him at 100 yards inthe left-hand rough.

The other players take their turns and when it comes the turn of thefirst player he again selects his club and shoots the ball. If thenumber selected by the ball should have shown by its indicia IUDC, hewould add 100 yards to his present position and place the ball at 2000on the chart which would put him behind a clump of trees in theright-hand rough. This play continues until guided by the indications onthe clubs the player finally holes out and of course the number of timeshe has shot the ball l2, indicates his score for that hole.

i It is realized that because the indicia upon the clubs need not bekept secret from the player before the play, it is not necessary to hidethe indicia by placing the clubs in the pockets I5. As a matter of fact,the same principles may be served by not using groups of piecesrepresenting clubs, but the groups of clubs may be indicated by printingupon a sheet of paper and showing the indicia under numberscorresponding to the numbers of the pockets l0. Neither is the specificball and pocket selector essential. Any form of selector may be used butit is to be realized that if the selection can be controlled to someextent by the skill of the operator, it makes the game one of skillrather than of pure chance.

The invention is defined in the appended claims and is to be consideredcomprehensive of all forms of structure coming within the scope.

I claim:

1. A game of the class described comprising, a shallow box having sidesand a bottom, a platform located in said box above said bottom, aplurality of pockets in said box on one side of said platform, a ballimpelling device in said box at the other side of said platform, apathway extending under said platform and communicating with saidimpelling device and said plurality of pockets, a detachable cover forsaid box and means for rotatably connecting the cover with the bottom ofthe box at the outside thereof.

2. A game of the class described comprising, a

shallow box having sides and a bottom, a plurality of pockets in saidbox, a ball impelling device in said box, a pathway communicating withsaid impelling device and said plurality of pockets, a detachable coverfor said box and means for rotatably connecting the cover to the bottomof the box at the outside thereof.

EARLE G. GILMORE

